Still proclaiming his innocence, a high-profile criminal defense lawyer convicted earlier this year in a $200,000 money-laundering conspiracy for which prosecutors said he earned $20,000 was sentenced Wednesday to a three and a half-year prison federal term.

The prosecution in the Boston case had asked for five years; the defense had sought 18 months, reports the Boston Globe. The Boston Herald also has a story.

“I know it pains everyone that I am standing here, pleading for myself the way I have for clients for so many years,” said Robert A. “Bob” George, 57. “I only sought to do what I could for somebody who asked for help.”

Calling it a sad day for the legal profession, U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton fined George $12,500 and required him to forfeit $39,500 and his Lexus.

The lawyer had at least one recorded conversation with a cooperating witness in his Lexus, according to testimony at trial. News reports say the feds paid the witness to wear a wire as he got George to help him arrange to send the money to a mortgage broker, with whom the lawyer split a 20 percent cut.

Earlier coverage:

ABAJournal.com: “Feds Kick Off Lawyer’s Money-Laundering Conspiracy Trial by Playing Tape of Talk with DEA Snitch”